Universal joint.



R.'H. LOWNDES.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE- l8, 1912.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

LVITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES RICHARD H. LOWNDES,

F ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

Application filed June 18, 1912. Serial No. 704,448.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. LowNoEs, citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the'county of Fulton and State 8 of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to universal joints for transmitting rotation froma driving shaft to a driven shaft.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a universal joint bywhich rotation may be transmitted from the driving shaft to the drivenshaft with a constant 5 velocity ratio through various relative anglesof the two shafts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a universal joint whichshall possess extreme flexibility, thus adaptin it 30 particularly foruse with motor' vehicles wherein the angle between the two shafts ismore or less constantly changing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a universal joint whichshall be of extremely simple construction and inexpensive tomanufacture.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in thedrawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of my inventionon line A-B of Fig. 2,'the driving and driven shafts to which the jointis applied being shown broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on lineOD of Fig. 3 z'. e. at right angles to the line of section of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line E-F of Fig. 2-.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of the invention at right anglesto each other showing different means for maintaining the pin connectingthe two rings in the center of the angle formed by the two shafts.

1 indicates the driving shaft, the rotation of which is to betransmitted at a constant velocity ratio to the driven shaft 2. Theadjacent ends of the two shafts are constructed to form yokes or forks 3and 4,

0 respectively, the two yokes being adapted to lie in the samelongitudinal plane as the two shafts when the latter are in axialalinement. Said adjacent ends of the shafts are also provided with axialtongues or exten- 5 sions 12 and 13 respectively which extend towardeach other and each being provided with a slot 12.

7 indicates a ring arranged between the outer ends of the arms of theyoke 3 and pivoted thereto by means of pivots or trunnions 14 and 15,and 6 indicates a ring arranged over the outer ends of the arms of yokedand pivoted thereto by means of pivots or trunnions 16 and 17. The ring6 is smaller than the ring 7 within which latter it is arranged, andsaid rings 6 and 7 are pivotally connected together by means alwaysbisect the'angle between the shafts.

The provision of means for accomplishing this result is of vitalimportance to the proper operation of the invention and theaccomplishment of the primary object of the invention. This result maybe accomplished by various means and it will be understood that I do notlimit myself to any articular means by which said result may eaccomplished.

In the drawings I have illustrated, as examples only, several'means foraccomplishing the desired object.

1 Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 8 and 9 indicate arms which at theirinner adjacent ends have a pivotal as well as a slidable connection withthe pin 5, and their outer .ends being slidingly arranged Within theslots 12 of the shaft extensions or tongues 12. Pins 10 and llextendacross the slots 12' and slots 21 formed in the arms 8 and 9, wherebythe latter are adapted to have a pivotal and slidable bearing upon thesaid pins 11 and 10. The inner ends of arms 8 and 9 may slide along pin5 when the shafts are more or less at an angle to each other, While atthe same time the outer ends of said arms may turn upon pins 11 and 10,and also have a sliding movement thereupon. Thus the two arms need notremain in the same plane but may rotate with respect to each other aboutthe line of pin 5 to permit flexibility of the joint. It will beobserved while the tongue or extension 13 of shaft 2 has a similarconnection withring 6 through the media of arm 8 and pin 5. 25 arewashers mounted on the pin 5 near the outer ends thereof andintermediate the rings 6 and 7.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a spool-shaped member 30 loosely mounted uponpin 5 and adapted to slide thereupon. The pin 5' corresponds to the pin5 in Figs. 1, 2 and '3. 6' and 7 indicate two rings corresponding to therings 6 and 7 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the rings 7 and 6' arepivoted to the yokes 3 and. 4 respectively of the driving and drivenshafts l' and 2. The rings 6 and 7 are pivotally connected together bymeans of pin 5. Secured to the arms of the yokes 3 and 4 respectivelyare guides in the form of pins 31 and 32 arranged on opposite sides ofthe pin 5' and which pins 31 and 32 at points intermediate their endsare slidingly arranged within the circumferential groove 30 of thespoolshaped member 30 on opposite sides thereof. As the angle of the twoshafts varies the pins 31 and 32 act to shift the member 30 on the pin 5and also to swing the rings on their and a driven-shaft provided attheir adjacent ends with yokes, of a ring trunnioned to the yoke ononeof the shafts, a ring trunnioned to the yoke on the other shaft andarranged within the first-mentioned ring, a pin forming trunnions forthe rings and extending diametrically of said rings, and meansintermediate the said in and the adjacent ends of the shafts havlngpivotal and slidable connection with the said shafts and the said pin tomaintain the said pin in the center of the angle formed by the shafts.

2. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft provided attheir adjacent ends with yokes, of a ring trunnioned to the yoke on oneof the shafts, a ring trunnioned to the yoke on the other shaft to theyoke on one of the shafts, a ring trunnioned to the yoke on the othershaft and arranged within the first-mentioned ring, a pin formingtrunnions for the rings and extending diametrically of said rings,guides arranged on opposite sides of said pin, and means slidablymounted upon said pin and having pivotal and slidable bearings upon saidguides.

4. The combination with a driving shaft and a ldriven shaft provided attheir adjacent ends with yokes, of a ring trunnioned to the yoke on oneof the shafts, a ring trunnioned to the yoke on the other shaft andarranged within the first-mentioned ring, a pin forming trunnions forthe rings and extending diametrically of said-rin 5, guides carried bythe yokes on opposite si es of said pin, and means slidably mounted uponsaid pin and having pivotal and slidable bearings upon said guides.

5. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft provided attheir adjacent ends with yokes, of a ring trunnioned to the yoke on oneof the shafts, a ring trunnioned to the yoke on the other shaft andarranged within the first-mentioned ring, a pin forming trunnions forthe rings and extending diametrically of said rings, uides carried bythe yokes on op osite si es of said pin, and a spool-shape memberslidingly mounted on. the said pin and having a circumferential groovein which said guides are arranged.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. LOWNDES.

Witnesses:

R. Q. ZULLER, Gnonon R. Hoon.

